Releasing mechanism for a power take-off



Aug. 30, 1949. K. w. cousE 2,430,555

RELEASING MECHANISM FOR A POWER TAKE-OFF Filed May 4, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Au 30, 1949. K. w. CQUSE v 2,480,555

RELEASING MECHANISM FOR A POWER TAKE'OFF Filed May 4, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 army Aug. 30, 1949. K. w. cousE RELEASING MECHANISM FOR A POWER TAKE-OFF 7 SheetsSheet 3 Filed May 4, 1946 1949- K. w. COUSE Q 2,480,555

RELEASING MECHANISM FOR A POWER TAKE-OFF Filed May 4, 1946 l '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 30, 1949. K. w. cousE RELEASING MECHANISM FOR A POWER TAKE-OFF Filed May 4, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 30, 1949. K. w. COUSE 80,

RELEASING MECHANISM FOR A POWER TAKE-OFF Filed May 4, 1946 '7 Sheets-Sheet BELT LOWEREDTO ENGAGE DRIVE FULLEY BEING CHRR\ED AROUND 3 BY BELTTD NESTED PosrrloN Eva/6 u 30, 1949. K. w. cousE v 2,480,555

RELEASING MECHANISM FOR A POWER TAKE-OFF Filed May 4, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 mzf Wdzze.

. Patented Aug. 30, 1949 RELEASING MECHANISM FOR A POWER TAKE-OFF Kibbey W. Couse, Newark, N. .1. Application May 4, 1946, Serial No. 667,378 Claims. (Cl. 74-2425) This invention relates to a special type of power take-off structure especially adapted for use in transmitting power from a common source to a plurality of units which may be located in various positions with respect to the output shaft of the source of power.

The improvements to be hereinafter described are especially adapted for use in connection with a source of power that may be kept in continuous operation While the units to be driven therefrom may be released or idled for any purpose desired.

In my application, Serial No. 603,139, filed July 4, 1945 now Patent No. 2,458,255, dated January 4, 1949, I have shown and described releasing means for a power take-01f structure which engage the belt only on one side of a diametrical plane and in a relatively small area, whereas in my present case the engagement of the releasing means is such that it engages the belt around approximately one-half the circumference of the driving pulley by forming a complete shield or cage around the driving pulley and entirely free from the pulley. This divides the application of the releasing power over a large arcuate surface and thereby prevents any tendency of the belt to whip, which defect is common in various other types of power take-off structures.

My invention will be readily understood by reference to the annexed drawings which are somewhat schematic in order to better illustrate the principle involved. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation looking at one side of a structure showing the power unit driving a unit of any desired character, and with the parts in power-transmitting position.

Figure 2 is a view of the structure shown in Figure 1 but looking at the reverse side.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the parts in a slightly different position; that is to say, in the first initial position of releasing the driven unit from the source of power.

Figure 4 is a view of Figure 3 from the reverse side.

Figure 5 is a View of Figure 1 with the parts in the final step of completely unlocking the drive pulley from the driven pulley of the unit being operated.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but from the reverse side.

Figure 7 is a view of the parts shown in Figure 1 but with the first step in relocking of the drive pulley to the driven pulley.

Figure 8 is a view of Figure 7 from the reverse side.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 7 but showing another step in the process of relocking the drive pulley to the driven pulley.

Figure 10 is a view of Figure 9 from the reverse side. a

Figure 11 is a diagrammatical view of certain of the parts associated with the drive pulley as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view of certain of the parts associated with the drive pulley as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic view of the parts associated with the drive pulley as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic view of the parts associated with the drive pulley approximately as shown in Figure 8.

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic view of the parts associated with the drive pulley as shown in Figure 10, but at the starting position shown in Figure 10.

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic view of the parts associated with the drive pulley as shown in Figure 10, but in a still further position of operation.

Figure 17 is an elevational view of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 18 is a semi-diagrammatic view, part in section and part in elevation of the drive pulley showing the normal position of the belt and the releasing devices.

Figure 19 is a view similar to Figure 18 but with the releasing devices in fully released position so that the belt is free from the drive pulley.

Figure 20 shows the grooved rod with a section of the belt located therein.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numbers refer to corresponding parts in the various views, I is a support on which are mounted arms 2 and 3 for carrying a drive shaft 4 of any suitable character and length. The shaft 4 carries a drive pulley 5 which is fastened as by' a key 6 to the shaft 4. The in the drawing, has a plurality of grooves to receive V-belts 1, although a fiat or even a chain'- type belt may be used, but in any case, the belt is generally referred to by the numeral 7. The belt 1 is permanently connected to a driven pulley 8 that is fastened to a driven shaft 9 which may be the shaft of one or more units to be operated by the source of power (not to the drive shaft 4. The driven shaft 9 is supported by standards .or arms are fastened to a support plate or platform pulley 5, as shown l2 that is pivoted at l3 to apart of the' support I.

shown) connected l0 and H which The pivot [3 should be in a constant relation to the axial center of the shaft 4 and it will be noted that the center line of the driven shaft 9 is vertically off-center from the pivot i3 so that the weight of the driven unit will never be on dead-center and will assist in the movements which are to be later described. Connected to the platform i2, is a sleeve-like boss Hi to which is attached a piston rod associated with a cylinder l5 pivoted at I! to a' support I. The cylinder 86 may be supplied with compressed air, oil or the equivalent by the pipe 18 and a suitable valve (not shown) associated therewith.

The primary purpose of the piston i5 which is operated through the medium of its cylinder 15, is for returning and holding the. driven unit inthe position shown in Figure 1, although it can assist in tilting the driven unit about the pivot I3.

Carried on the driving shaft ll, are two spaced discs. l9 and 29 which are preferably not fixed thereto. Each of these discs has a raceway 2| therein within which are positioned the ends of rollers 22 having grooves 23 therein to receive at times the parts of the belt I where a V-belt is used. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rollers 22 are shown in their nested position, free from any contact with the belt and substantially centrally positioned on the line joining the axes of the driving and driven shafts. I

The rollers 22 are heldin this nested position by the following means: The support arm 3 has an upwardly extending portion 2:3 carrying at its upper end a bearing 25. The bearingi25 carries a pin 26 on which a bifurcated pawl 21 is adapted to rotate. The extending portion 2'4 has a lug 28 thereon tolimit the movement of. the pawl ill in an upward direction. Positioned between the arms. ofthe pawl 21 is a pin 29 connected to an arm 39 that is mounted freely on the shaft 4, one end of one of the rollers, which is numbered 22a, passing throughthe arm 30 into the raceway 2| of the disc 20., Pivotally connected at 3|,to one of the fingers of the pawl 21 is a plunger 32 associatedvw'ith an airfor hydraulic cylinder 33 provided with pipes 34 and 35 so as to operate the plungerl32 in both directions. The cylinder.33 is pivotally'mounted on a fitting 36 "supported by the shaft 9. .l

When the pressure in the cylinder I6 is re-' leased, the platform l2 starts to tilt as shown in Figures 3 and 4, and since at this particular moment the piston 32 doesnot move in the cylinder 33, the pawl 21 is moved to the position shown in Figures 3 and 4:. This carries the arm'fifi with it, as well as the roller 22a. It'may be mentioned that all the rollers are connected by links 31, except the two end rollers 22a and 2217. Each link 31 is foldable about a joint 55.

As the roller 22a is moved, as just described, it is caused to engage'the belt as shown inFigures 3, 4 and 12. The friction between the roller 22a and the belt 1 will drag the roller further under the belt and will start moving the next roller 'in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 12 until the next roller 'is'caught, and so on until all of the rollers are expanded into what I term a squirrel cage position as shown in Figure 13. While this is being done, the roller 22b-which passes through an a'rm'38 and into the raceway 2| of the disc Iii-4s held in the position shown in Figures 1-4 by the following means: The arm 38 is freely mounted on the drive shaft 4 and carries a pin 39 which is engaged by notches'ina quadrant 40 pivotally mounted on the boss i4.

portion of the the 4 It will be noted that the quadrant 40 is held against the platform 12 by means of a compression spring 4! to tend to continuously hold the quadrant it) in the position shown in all the figures.

Due to the fact that the shaft 4 is rotating in a clockwise direction in Figure 2, the arm 38 has the tendency to move from its initial position as indicated in Figure engage, the quadrant 39 will have moved downwardly in an are such as to assist in maintaining the arm 38 in its initial position. Also pivotally mounted on the arm 38, is a catch pawl 322-; the purpose of which will be later pointed out.

At the end i the tilting motion as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the pawl 27 is completely released from andput of the path of movement of pin 29 so that the arm 30 is free to be rotated about the shaft 4 by reason of its attachment to the roller 22a. Simultaheously with the movement ,of the pawl 2'l,- thequadrant AB has been moved out of engagement with and out of the path of movement of the pin 39; andalso, the catch pawl 42, engages an auxiliary pin {13 carried on an arm id which overlies the arm 30 but on the side adjacent the disc 19, and through which the other end of the roller 22a passes, This 'corresponds to the position of the rollers22a and 22b in Figure 13 In this position it will heseen that the rollers 22 are in'fully extended position forming what I term a squirrel cage, and are moving at substantially the speed "ofthe belt at the time of its release from the driving pulley. ,As this support is throughout an arc of more than degrees, all whipping of thebelt is eliminated and the belt will begin to slow down and finally stop, Before the belt 1 comes to a stop, the cylinder -33 is actuated to causeits plunger -32 to withdraw the pawl 21 back to theposition shown in Figure 1, or to the dotted position shown in Figure 5. so as to hem position to engage the pin 29 and hold the arm 30 ,when it reaches the proper position (see Figs. '7, 8 and 14);, l

In order to release'the catch pawl 42 from the pin Q3. I have provided an arcuatelyshaped arm as which is pivotally supported at 46 adjacent the shaft 4 on a support member '41.- This arcuate arm 45 is provided at one end with an extension 48 having a pivotal bearing 49 to which is at tached a piston 50 associated with a cyl nder 5! that is pivotallysupported at 52 to a part of the support I. On energization of the cylinder 5! to draw the, piston 59 inwardly, the lever 45 is operated so that the fla't portion 53 thcreci first engages the pin 54 onth'e catch pawl '42, moving the catch pawl so as to release the pin 43. As the lever 45 further moves, it engagesthe pin Eli that was initially infengage'ment with the quadrant 49 and this carries the arm -38, carrying the roller 22b, 'around 'in a clockwise positon, refer ring to Figure ,8 and asshown 'inFigur'e 15 and also in Figure 16, whereby the belt 1' moves downwardly into engagement with the pulley as shown in Figure 16; Simultaneously therewith. the cylinder lfi is energized'to 'mbvejthe platform i2 toward its horizontal-position, thereby acting to tighten the belt I and to bring the-squirrel cage mechanism bacl; ",to its initial p'osition as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 11, with the rollers'22located between the lines wandb.

, Immediately the piston fillrh'as'moved thearm 45 to theposition shown inFigure '10,, thearm 45* must be immediately moved back to the position shown in the dotted lines and this is done-by energizing the cylinder 5| in reverse direction.

Thus all parts are brought back to normal position and it goes without saying that all of these structure including driving and driven shafts with pulleys thereon and supports therefor and belt means for running over the pulleys, means comprising rotatable members normally out of contactwith the belt but insertible between the driving pulley and the belt by the belt on bringing one of said rotatable members into contact with the belt, means for initially bringing said one rotatable member into contact with the belt, said rotatable members being finally spaced from the pulley at a plurality of arcuately spaced points around a greater part of the circumference of the pulley for lifting and holding the belt from the pulley with means for locking said rotatable members in this position, means for releasing said locking means and allowing the rotatable members to contact with the belt whereby the belt will contact with the driving pulley and return said rotatable members to normal position.

2, Releasing mechanism for a power take-off structure including driving and driven shafts with pulleys thereon and supports therefor and belt means for running over the pulleys, means including a set of rollers connected by movable links except the two end rollers are not directly linked to each other, the rollers being normally in a nested position but movable for engaging said belt, means for engaging one end roller with the belt whereby said engagement will serve to move the rollers into spaced relationship around the driving pulley as defined by the links, means for supporting the rollers in spaced relation away from the outer periphery of the driving pulley to thereby move and hold the belt out of contact with the pulley and means for allowing the belt to come back into contact with the pulley and to move the rollers and links back to foldable position.

3. Releasing mechanism for a power take-off structure as set forth in claim 2 further defined in that the roller ends are supported in raceways provided in discs located at opposite ends of the riving pulley.

4. Releasing mechanism for a power take-01f structure as set forth in claim 2 further defined in that the roller ends are supported in raceways provided in discs located at opposite ends of the driving pulley, and further defined in that the rollers are connected together by jointed links which will allow the rollers to be folded together into a nest and expanded into a cage-like device with means for locking the cage while the belt is held in released position from the pulley.

5. Releasing mechanism for a power take-off structure including driving and driven shafts with pulleys thereon and supports therefor and belt means for running over the pulleys, an expansible and collapsible mechanism positioned between opposite running sides of the belt and adjacent the driving pulley, means for normally holding said mechanism in collapsed position away from the belt while power is being transmitted by the belt, means for releasing said holding means and moving a member of said mechanism into contact with the belt whereby the belt will move other members of said mechanlsm intoexpansible position in c'ont'act' with the belt thereby lifting the belt entirely from the driving pulley, means for locking said belt engaging members in their expansible position. means for releasing said locking means and moving at least one of said members into contact with the belt whereby the belt will collapse said mechanism and return it to normal position for' engagement with said normal holding means.

6. Releasing mechanism for a power take-0d structure as set forth in claim 5 further characterized in that said collapsible mechanism in? eludes a plurality of rollers supported at their ends in members having circular raceways and;

connected in chain-like formation by jointed. links.

7. Releasing mechanism for a power take-off. structure as set forth in claim 5 further characterized in that said collapsible mechanism in-- cludes a plurality of rollers supported at their ends in members having circular raceways and. connected in chain-like formation by jointedl links, and further characterized in that said nor-- mally holding means includes a bifurcated pawland an arm freely carried on the driving pulley shaft, the arm having a pin normally located. between the fingers of the holding pawl, one end. roller going through said arm so as to carry the arm with it around the shaft and means for moving the pawl out of'engagement with the pin: and at the same time moving the arm so the roller going through it will be moved into contact with the belt and thereby start the said expansible operation.

8. Releasing mechanism for a power take-0E? structure as set forth in claim 5 further charac-- terized in that said collapsible mechanism in-- chides a plurality of rollers supported at their ends in members having circular raceways and? connected in chain-like formation by jointed links, and further characterized in that said nor-- mally holding means includes a bifurcated pawl and an arm freely carried on the driving pulley shaft, the arm having a pin normally located between the fingers of the holding pawl, one end roller going through said arm so as to carry the arm with it around the shaft, and still further characterized in that said locking means lneludes; another arm freely carried on the driving pulley shaft, the arm pivotally carrying a catch pawl which has a release pin fastened thereto, and still another arm freely carried on the drive shaft on the opposite side of the pulley from the arm carrying the holding pawl and overlying this last mentioned arm, the said end roller: also going through this overlying arm so both; arms move together, this overlying arm having a pin positioned to be engaged by the catch pawl when the link chain is extended so the two end: rollers are brought adjacent each other and: means for operating the catch pawl to release the; roller held thereby and start the collapsible movement around the drive pulley thereby allowing the belt to come back onto the pulley.

9. Releasing mechanism for a power take-oil structure including driving and driven shafts with pulleys thereon and supports therefor and belt means for running over the pulleys, means for moving the belt completely out of contact with the driving pulley, said means including a. set of rollers connected together by foldable links except the two end rollers are not directly linked to each other so as to be normally nested between opposite parts of the belt adjacent the for logging; h a d xsl 1 'tyil'qi wi q shits 6. 1 pwm s5: 2 m2. .4a

Humbg 7 CQI2 REFERENCES 011131;,

UMI Q T T-TES, 3mm? 

